A YOUNG woman with epilepsy has thanked an off-duty firefighter who saved her life after she had a seizure.

Evie Johnson, from Tottington, has spoken out about the incident to raise awareness as part of National Epilepsy Week.

The 24-year-old was outside her mother's home when she had an atonic seizure — where her muscles suddenly became limp — which escalated into a tonic-clonic seizure, causing Evie to lose consciousness.

She said: "I fell and smashed my head on my mum’s car and her garden wall.

"Luckily, a passing off-duty firefighter was around. If he hadn’t been walking down my street by chance, I would have been on my own and no one would have been any the wiser that I was in trouble."

The hero firefighter was first aid trained, and knew to put Evie into the recovery position, ensuring she did not suffer further injury.

He found a medical ID card in her purse and contacted her next of kin as well as an ambulance.

She added: "I would like to say a massive thank you to the firefighter who helped me that day. He basically saved my life."

Evie, who was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was aged nine, has regular seizures and often finds herself dependant on members of the public to help.

She called for people to get clued up on what to do, to reassure the person having a seizure, and to always call an ambulance in an emergency.

The former Bury CE High School pupil also called for more training to be given in schools and workplaces.

"If you are scared then call an ambulance and just reassure the person that it’s okay", Evie said.

"Epilepsy is an invisible condition so obviously people can’t see what’s going on all the time.

"You might see someone having a seizure unexpectedly. It’s important to know what to do."

Epilepsy affects one in every 100 people in the UK.

This National Epilepsy Week, between May 20-26, charity Epilepsy Action is highlighting the simple ways people can help someone having a seizure, potentially even saving their life.

Epilepsy Action chief executive Philip Lee said: “Witnessing a seizure can be frightening and people might worry about making the situation worse. But simple things, such as staying with the person until they come round and calling for help where necessary, can make a massive difference.

"From the countless stories we hear, when people step up to support someone having a seizure, it can make a disorientating, sometimes life-threatening, experience much less scary for everyone.

“We also want to tackle myths that still surround epilepsy, such as putting something in a person’s mouth if they have a seizure. This is actually very dangerous – it could injure their jaw or block their airwaves. Unhelpful assumptions like this can make many people with epilepsy fearful of going out in public.

"Learning more about the condition, and some basic first aid, makes a real difference and will give people with epilepsy more confidence to go about their everyday lives."